School-desk.



G. H. HEITMULLER.

SCHOOL DESK.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV.6, 1912.

1,131,376, Patented Mar.9,1915.

Smpwntoz 'nnirn GEORGE H. HEITMULLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SCHOOL-DESK.

Application filed November 6, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnonen H. Herr- MULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, hawe invented new and useful Improvements in School-Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved school desk of the type commonly usedfor children, although the same is not limited in this particular, being capable of general application.

In school desks of the types now in general use the tops are normally supported in an approximately horizontal position, and as a consequence when it is necessary for a pupil to read from books placed upon the top of the desk, it is impossible to conveniently do so without leaning the body well forward, and placing the head, arms and shoulders in such positions that the lungs are contracted and the spine receives an improper curvature.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing objections and the tendency to produce curvature of the spine and other ailments induced by improper positions in reading, by providing a school desk with a top which may be readily tilted and maintained at an angle, so that the book or paper that is being read may be held in proper position before the eyes and without necessitating leaning the body forward.

Theinvention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a top plan view of a school desk embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slight modification. Fig. 4: is a detailed sectional View on line i-e: Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a school desk, the body of which is supported upon standards 11, said desk being provided with the usual compartment to receive the school books, and other articles normally stored within a school desk. The sides 12 of the desk have their upper edges cut away to form a recess or pocket 13, and a stationary top member 14: is secured to said sides and the end wall 15, as indicated in Fig. 2. The movable top 16 is hinged at 17 to the side members 12, the hinge 17 be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 729,852.

ing on the underside of the movable member. Pivotally connected to the movable member 16, at 18 is a ledge member 19. It will be noted that the hinge 1S spans the joint between members 16 and 19, and the hinge 17 is on the forward side of said joint. Secured to the underside of member 19 is a wedge block 20, the thin edge of the wedge pointing rearwardly or toward the pupils seat, the underface of the wedge resting upon a squared portion 21 formed in the top edge of the rear end wall Hinged to the underside of the movable member 16 at the forward edge thereof, are prop members 23.

In operation, the parts normally occupy the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, the movable member 16 and the ledge mei ber 19 being approximately in alinement with the stationary top 1 1, the prop members 23 being folded under upper edges of the sides 12 in the pockets 13. lVhen it is desired to use the desk for reading the member 16 is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2. As the forward edge of the member 16 is elevated, the hinge connection 18 is forced downward. As soon as the pressure is brought to bear upon wedge 20, the latter, cooperating with thesquared portion 21, causes the rear end of the member 19 to move upward as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, thereby forming a bottom ledge to prevent the book or the like from slipping off. The member 19 is beveled near each end as indicated at 19 to provide clearance for the top edge of the side 12 when the rear end of the member 19 is moved upwardly. The movable top 16 is supported by the prop members 23, and the pressure brought upon the wedge 20 maintains the ledge member 19 in its adjusted position. When it is desired to lower the top, the prop members 23 are folded under and the forward end of the movable top 16 is lowered. The operator then grasps the rear edge of the ledge mem ber 19 and by a slight pressure can bring it into alinement with the rest of the top of the desk.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a. slight modification, the movable top member 16 being shown as applied to a desk having a rear opening instead of a side opening as illustrated in the other figures. In this form two wedge blocks 20 are employed, one at each end of the top member 16, and the under Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

and resting upon the faces of the side wedges rest upon squared portions 21* formed in the top edges of blocks 22*" secured to the side walls of the desk. The operation is obvious.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have produced an adjustable top for school desks which may be easily adjusted and ma nipulated, and by means of which a book, or the like, may be supported at the proper angle for the pupil to read therefrom without leaning the body forward or placing the arms upon the desk, or assuming other positions that bring undue constraint upon the lungs, the spine, or the body muscles.

It will be understood that I do not desire tolimit myself to the particular type of desk body shown, as my invention is applicable to all of the well known forms of school desks. It is also obvious that the angle of inclination of the movable top when in open position may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim is 1. An improvement in school desks comprising a desk body, a movable top hinged to said body, a ledge member having one edge hinged to a corresponding edge of said top, and means for causing said ledge member to turn on its hinge connection as said top is raised.

2. An improvement in school desks comprising a desk body, a movable top connected with said body, a ledge member having a hinged connection with said top and flush with the top when the latter is down, and means operated by the elevation of said top for causing said'ledge member to turn on its hinge connection into an angular position with relationto the top.

3. An improvement in school desks comprising a desk body, a movable top pivotally connected with said body, a ledge member hinged to said top, and a wedge carried by said ledge member and engaging one edge of said body, whereby said ledge is elevated when said top member is raised.

4. An improvement in desks comprising a body, a movable top having its under face hinged to said body, a ledge member having one edge hinged to the upper portion of a corresponding edge of said top, and means for causing the ledge member to turn on its hinge connection as said top is raised.

5. An improvement in desks comprising a desk body, a movable top having its under face pivotally connected with said body, a ledge member pivotally connected with the upper face of said top, and a wedge secured to said ledge member and engaging one edge of said body, whereby said ledge is elevated by an upward movement of said top.

6. An improvement in school desks com prising a body, a movable top pivoted to said body, a ledge member hinged to said top, and a wedge secured to said ledge member, one end wall of said body being provided with a squared portion cooperating with said wedge.

7. An improvement in school desks comprising a body provided with side walls the upper edges of which are recessed, a movable top pivotally connected to said side walls, a ledge member connected with said top, means operated by the movement of said top for elevating said ledge member, and props pivoted to said top and normally resting in said recesses when the top is lowered.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. HEITMULLER. WVitnesses: .J. M. MASON, FRED M. Bnnrnnono.

Copies 01- thls patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

